I feel like we’re past the point of introductions, I’ve been here four years now. I’m practically furniture. But I’m Chris Dempsey, and this is the first of what I hope is a long running, off-beat (read: cool) online column.

Now, the purpose of this is to tell you what I feel, because, well, my better is better than your better. But we’ll impart information, involve you, sometimes slip-slide away from normal sports conversation and get to what we all really want to talk about. I’m that guy. This is that space. So be ready to voice your opinion.

Which leads us to this…

Funny how six days can change things: On Friday, we were all – myself included – bracing for the best Western Conference playoffs in the history of the NBA. The Eastern Conference? Who cared? Well, on Wednesday, it’s clear that the Eastern Conference playoffs have been better to this point. Save, of course, for the San Antonio-Phoenix series, which has been the single best first-round series so far.

The West? We had the Nuggets being blown out of Game 1. Dallas has been handled twice by New Orleans. Utah is going to sweep the severely undermanned Houston Rockets. Blah.

The East is where the trash talk (Washington), close games (Orlando over Toronto, Game 2), players rising to the occasion (LeBron James) and upset games (Philadelphia over Detroit, Game 1) have been. The games are compelling, the storylines are addicting, and it has been generally much more entertaining than the glitzy Western Conference. Well see if it stays that way.